BBC Says Master Chef Escoffier Stole Over $3 Million in Kickbacks

Auguste Escoffier is a legendary figure among chefs, famous for updating French haute cuisine for the 20th century and for establishing the organized, hygenic, semi-militaristic kitchen that’s now the norm in restaurants today. Apparently, though, he was also a grade-A grifter.

A new BBC documentary on the chef has unearthed signed confessions by both Escoffier and his colleague, Cesar Ritz (yes, that Ritz), admitting to defrauding the Savoy Hotel to the tune of $3 million. They stole over $750,000 worth of wine and spirits from the Savoy-owned Carlton Hotel, but the majority of that $3 million came to Escoffier in the form of kickbacks from the Savoy kitchen’s suppliers.

The moral of the story? If you’re going to be a crook, be famous for something else and we’ll probably forget all about your grand larceny.